Microsoft word - spine pain and omega.doc

Spine Pain and Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids
Cox enzymes convert the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid into the pro-
inflammatory pain producer prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).
Most cox-enzyme inhibiting pain drugs known as non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit both cox-1 and cox-2 enzymes. However,blocking the cox-1 enzyme resulted in significant bleeding problems. A studypublished in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1999 (1) noted thatprescription NSAIDs for rheumatoid and degenerative arthritis alone conservativelyaccounted for a minimum of 16,500 fatal bleeding deaths per year in the US, whichis the 15th leading cause of death in the US.
It was thought that if a drug could be developed that blocked only the cox-2
enzyme, there would be fewer bleeding problems / deaths while maintainingsignificant pain reduction. Starting in 1999, the US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) approved three such cox-2 enzyme inhibitors, Bextra, Vioxx, and Celebrex.
On September 30, 2004, Merck, the maker of the cox-2 inhibiting drug Vioxx,
pulled this product from the marketplace because it tripled or quadrupled theincidence of heart attacks and strokes. Bextra had already been pulled from themarket for the same reason, and the FDA issued a “black box” warning (strongestpossible warning against using the product without actually removing the drug from
the marketplace) against the drug Celebrex. Published accounts suggest that thedrug Vioxx resulted in 56,000 fatal heart attacks / strokes in the 5 years it was onthe market (see reference #2 for review).
The scrutiny concerning the dangers of the cox-2 enzyme inhibiting drugs
expanded to all NSAIDs, including those sold over-the-counter. An article publishedin 2005 notes (3):
More Pain Relievers Called Into QuestionStudy Stirs Concern About Heart Safety of Over-Counter DrugsAssociated PressApril 19, 2005By Marilynn Marchione“With prescription drugs Vioxx and Bextra already pulled from themarket, a study has raised disturbing questions about the heart safety ofover-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil, Motrin and Aleve.”Those taking the “drugs for at least 6 months had twice the risk ofdying of a heart attack, stroke or other heart-related problem.”The study was released at an American Association for CancerResearch conference in Anaheim.“The findings add to the suspicion that the heart risk extends beyondthe so-called COX-2 drugs – Bextra, Vioxx and Celebrex – to the largerfamily of medications known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, orNSAIDs, which include naproxen, ibuprofen and virtually all other over-the-counter pain relievers.”“’To the best of our knowledge, these are the first data to supportputting a [black] box warning on NSAIDs, not just COX-2s’ said Dr. AndrewDannenberg, a Cornell University scientist who helped do the study.”“The NSAID users were dying at twice the rate of the others fromheart related problems.”“Risk was highest among ibuprofen users who were nearly threetimes more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than non NSAID users.”
It is clear, that a non-drug approach to pain management is imperative. Dr.
Joseph Maroon, neurosurgeon and specialist in degenerative spine disease at theUniversity of Pittsburgh reported on such a non-drug alternative to the treatment ofchronic spine pain on April 19th at the 73rd meeting of the American Association of
Neurological Surgeons. A review of his research was published the following day,and notes (4):
American Association of Neurological Surgeons:High-Dose Omega-3 Oils used to Treat Non-Surgical Neck and Back PainDoctors Guide, April 20, 2005By Cameron Johnston“Investigators at the University of Pittsburgh have treated chronicpain patients with high doses of omega-3 fatty acids – the ingredient foundin many cold-water fish species such as salmon.”“The researchers say their findings suggest that this could be theanswer to the adverse effects seen with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs (NSAIDs), including cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors, which havebeen associated with potentially catastrophic adverse effects.”Patients who took high doses of omega-3 oils were impressed enoughwith the outcomes that they chose to continue using the oils and foregothe use of NSAIDs.The 250 study patients suffered from chronic neck or back pain butwere not surgical candidates, and they had been using daily doses ofNSAIDs.After 75 days of taking high doses of omega-3s, 59% had stoppedtaking prescription drugs for their pain.“88% said they were pleased enough with the outcomes that theyplanned to continue using the fish oils.”“No significant adverse effects were reported.”
This omega-3 research by Dr Maroon was published in the medical journal
Surgical Neurology in April 2006. Comments from the abstract include (5):
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an anti-inflammatory: an alternative tononsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic painDepartment of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh MedicalThe use of NSAIDs are associated with “extreme complications,including gastric ulcers, bleeding, myocardial infarction, and even deaths.”“An alternative treatment with fewer side effects that also reducesthe inflammatory response and thereby reduces pain is believed to beomega-3 EFAs found in fish oil.”At an average of 75 days on fish oil, 59% discontinued taking theirprescription NSAIDs for pain and 88% stated they would continue to takethe fish oil.“There were no significant side effects reported.”“Our results mirror other controlled studies that compared ibuprofenand omega-3 EFAs demonstrating equivalent effect in reducing arthriticpain.”“Omega-3 EFA fish oil supplements appear to be a safer alternative toNSAIDs for treatment of nonsurgical neck or back pain.”
Studies on omega-3 essential fatty acid supplementation for optimal health
and neurological function will be presented by Daniel Murphy, DC, at the StateConvention. This information includes dosing (how much to take), source (wheredoes the oil come from), ratios for optimal biological utilization, and optimizing co-factors (vitamins that protect the double bonds from oxidation). All information isextremely well referenced, with approximately 500 pages of class notes. Manyother topics including neurology, subluxation, laser and nutrition will also becovered by Dr. Murphy.
Wolfe MM, David R. Lichtenstein DR, Singh G; Gastrointestinal Toxicity of
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs; New England Journal of Medicine; Volume340 Number 24; June 17, 1999; pp. 1888-1899.
Murphy D; Cox Inhibitors and the FDA; January 2005.
Marchione M;More Pain Relievers Called Into Question: Study Stirs Concern
About Heart Safety of Over-Counter Drugs; Associated Press; April 19, 2005.
Johnston C; American Association of Neurological Surgeons:
High-Dose Omega-3 Oils used to Treat Non-Surgical Neck and Back Pain; DoctorsGuide, April 20, 2005.
Maroon JC, Bost JW; Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an anti-inflammatory:
an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic pain; April2006;65(4); pp. 326-31.

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